Individual consultant for 2025 Census Thematic Report - Mortality Report

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead United Nations agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established to address global population issues, UNFPA operates in numerous countries worldwide, working towards the goals set out in the Programme of Action from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The organization emphasizes the importance of human rights and aims to empower individuals through access to reproductive health services and education. UNFPA's mission is guided by its strategic plan for 2026-2029, which aims to respond to complex global challenges and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 203

• The organization is committed to transparency, ethical practices, and delivering high-impact results through effective partnerships and resource mobilization.

Job Overview:
The UNFPA Country Office in Lao PDR is seeking an international consultant to provide advanced technical assistance and demographic expertise to the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) for the computation, validation, structural modeling, and narrative write-up of the official Population and Housing Census Thematic Report on Mortality. This role is crucial as it involves transforming the data collected from the first-ever digital census into actionable socio-demographic intelligence. The consultant will work closely with the LSB and UNFPA's Policy and Census Coordinator, ensuring adherence to UNFPA's policies while collaborating with national counterparts. The consultant's work will focus on understanding mortality profiles in Laos, which is essential for programming, planning, and policy responses in various sectors, including health and women's empowerment. The consultant will also be responsible for producing a high-impact Policy Brief and interactive geospatial dissemination products, which will be vital for informing stakeholders and guiding policy decisions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The International Consultant will be embedded within the LSB analytical structure, working closely with a counterpart and mentoring junior LSB experts. Responsibilities include guiding the validation, syntax preparation, analysis, indicator construction, and final write-up of the mortality report. Key indicators to be modeled include infant and child mortality rates, adult and maternal mortality rates, life tables, and mortality differentials. The consultant will also integrate geospatial data with LSB's GIS infrastructure to produce high-resolution maps. The assignment will involve several mandatory operational steps, including the development of an Inception Report, structural outline, syntax development, data validation, and drafting the final monograph and policy brief. The consultant will ensure that all deliverables are completed on time and meet the required standards for publication.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree, preferably a Ph.D., in Demography, Population Studies, Statistics, or a related field. A minimum of 7 years of progressive international experience in advanced demographic analysis is required, with a proven track record of authoring national-level Census Thematic Monographs on Mortality or Life Tables. Candidates should have direct operational expertise in demographic estimation techniques and advanced mastery of statistical analysis packages such as SPSS and R. Experience in resource-constrained environments or developing states, particularly in Southeast Asia, is highly desirable. Strong communication skills in English, both written and spoken, are essential for effective knowledge transfer and collaboration with stakeholders.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Demography, Population Studies, Statistics, Quantitative Sociology, or a closely related economic development discipline is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding complex demographic data and applying advanced statistical techniques necessary for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of progressive international experience in advanced demographic analysis. Candidates should have a proven track record of authoring national-level Census Thematic Monographs on Mortality or Life Tables for UN agencies or National Statistical Offices. Direct operational expertise in demographic estimation techniques for both fertility and mortality analysis is essential, along with experience in statistical analysis packages such as SPSS and R.

Languages:
Excellent English speaking and writing skills are mandatory for this position. The consultant must possess high-level communication capabilities to facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration with the LSB team and other stakeholders. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 35 working days from August 3 to November 30, 2026, with a hybrid working modality that includes both remote work and on-site missions to Lao PDR. The consultant will be compensated with a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. UNFPA promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. The consultant will be required to complete specific online training courses before signing the contract. Payments will be performance-linked, with two equal installments based on the successful completion of deliverables.